Honda Civic -- Interior

Overview
The new Civic could best be described as "the biggest small car in history." While the overall length of the 2001 Civic is shorter, the interior passenger compartment and the trunk are larger.

The 2001 Civic has moved from subcompact to compact car status. For instance, the LX Sedan interior volume has grown from 101.7 cubic feet to 104.3 cubic feet. This makes the Civic Sedan interior larger than other small cars and moves it closer to traditionally larger cars like the Nissan Altima or Mazda 626.

The interior of the 2001 Civic is not only larger, it is also more refined. All of the various elements in the interior are thoughtfully integrated and flush mounted, rather than overlapping.

All this makes the Civic more appealing, particularly to those drivers looking for a well-equipped compact that delivers exceptional comfort and value. This also gives the Civic a distinct advantage over other cars in the subcompact and compact classes.

A More Refined and Luxurious Interior
Civic was one of the first cars to prove that "entry level" doesn't mean you have to compromise your comfort standards. For the 2001 model year, Civic adds a level of refinement to its interior that is clearly in a class of its own. These are just some of the changes that make the Civic feel more refined and luxurious:

• Larger instruments and larger diameter display panel -- making the instruments easier to read.
• The interior now features more illuminated switches for easier nighttime use. They include the hazard light switch, remote control mirror switch, sunroof switch, and power window switch.
• Thanks to the new entry light feature, interior lights turn on and off automatically, based on function. For instance, if a door is left open, the interior lights turn off automatically after three minutes.
• There's a new, significantly larger footrest for the driver's left foot to enhance comfort on long drives. The new footrest is about one inch longer and about 4.5 inches wider.
• The cupholders have been increased in size to better accommodate 20-oz.
• plastic bottles.

Color Combinations
In an effort to further differentiate the Sedan and Coupe, each has its own unique interior color combinations and fabrics:

• The Sedan features classic colors and upscale fabrics to create a quality appearance.
• The Coupe has larger patterns integrated into the fabric and uses more color for a sportier feeling.
• In addition, the Coupe's interior uses metallic surfaces to give it a high tech appearance, and the instruments feature unique amber nighttime illumination, further adding to its sporting nature.

Comfort and Convenience Features
Making an interior larger is one thing -- making it more attuned to the driver's needs is something altogether different. The 2001 Civic features thoughtful refinements that make it more enjoyable to drive and provide more room where it's needed most. Legroom, shoulder room and hip room all have been increased, rear legroom by nearly two inches. The seats themselves are larger. Instruments and gauges are larger and easier to read. Key controls and switches are conveniently placed so they are within easy reach of the driver. Interior lighting has also been improved.

Interior Roominess
The designers and engineers realize that drivers in this category prefer the compact exterior dimensions, yet do not want to give up interior spaciousness. The 2001 Civic resolves this dilemma by shrinking its outside dimensions while increasing the size of the interior. One way the engineers made the new Civic feel larger was to push the A-pillar forward. Another was to integrate a unique flat floor design, which creates additional back seat foot room. All of this contributes to making this the largest Civic interior ever produced.

Flat Floor
The interior has a flat floor, eliminating the typical tunnel that runs the length of the interior. This is most noticeable in the back seat as the flat floor design provides considerably more foot room -- particularly for middle passengers.

Larger, More Comfortable Seats
When designing the seats for the 2001 Civic, the engineers wanted to create a seat that would reduce fatigue during long-term driving. The new seats are more rigid and have a more secure feeling. They also have more aggressive bolsters to better hold the driver. Finally, the cushions themselves have been increased by one inch / 25mm -- particularly in the hip area -- to improve overall comfort and support of the seats.

In addition, the front bucket seats on the Civic Coupe model feature a sporty, open headrest and a deeper and wider seatback design.

Raised Hip Point in Sedan

• The hip point was raised one inch / 25mm in the sedan. This makes it easier to get in and out of the 2001 Civic (compared to its predecessor), and puts it on par with many other midsize cars.
• The rear hip point has also been raised -- by 0.80 in. / 20 mm -- to make it easier for back seat passengers to get in and out of the Civic.
• There is 1.0 inch / 25mm more rear legroom for added comfort.

Improved Armrest
Civic EX models include an integrated driver's armrest. It has been redesigned to make its location more comfortable for the driver, without interfering with access to the center console.

• The armrest is attached to -- and moves with -- the seat so it provides optimum comfort at all times.

Additional Coupe Refinements

Improved Ingress/Egress
Various measures on the Civic Coupe make it easier to get in and out of. One example is the slide bar front seatbelts. Just behind either door, there is a bar located at the bottom of the body. This bar is the bottom attachment point for the seatbelt, and it allows the seatbelt to slide back -- out of the way -- when someone is getting into the back seat. In addition, the passenger seat on Coupe EX and LX models has a front seat walk-in device with memory. When the passenger door is opened, and the seatback is tilted forward, the seat slides all the way to the front of its tracks, providing the largest opening possible for back seat access. When the seatback is returned to its upright position, the seat slides back three-quarters of the way. This is done to provide easy entry for the front seat passenger without bumping the rear seat occupant.

Slim Moonroof Design
People like sunroofs and moonroofs because they give the vehicle an open-air feeling while also improving interior circulation. But one negative tradeoff is that they reduce headroom. Honda's engineers came up with a solution, creating a new ultra-thin moonroof for the Civic EX. This design provides the luxury and benefits of a moonroof, with reduced loss of headroom. This new moonroof is only two inches -- that's one inch thinner than the moonroof in previous models and what is believed to be the world's slimmist moonroof.

• This slimline design was created by developing a thinner moonroof motor.
• An aluminum base improves rigidity while also reducing the overall height of the moonroof.
• A dome-type sunshade -- it is now curved to follow the contour of the roof, rather than being flat as in previous models, and helps increase headroom.*

Audio Systems
All Civic models come with a standard audio system. The system itself is a new design that is flush-mounted to the instrument panel, for a more refined appearance.

• Civic DX models have an AM /FM stereo radio.
• Civic HX Coupe and all Civic LX models add a cassette player to the AM / FM stereo radio.
• Civic EX models have a high-powered audio system (30 watts x 4 channels) and have an AM / FM / CD unit in the dash.
• The Civic Coupe EX has an exclusive 6-speaker, 30-watt audio system that adds a pair of door-mounted tweeters. This audio system has been specifically designed to enhance the acoustic environment of the Coupe, giving it deeper bass and crisper treble.
• All 2001 Civics have neodymium speakers that use a resin frame and feature one-touch attachment to the front door -- this design reduces the overall weight of the car by 2.9 lbs./1.32 kg. In addition, the speaker's larger opening produces better sound reproduction.

Instrument Panel
Both the Sedan and Coupe models have a new instrument panel with larger meters and gauges, making them easier to read.

• CPU-controlled fuel meter to help ensure accuracy.
• Twin LCD tripmeters are included for added driver convenience.
• The gauges on the Coupe models feature silver highlighting and special amber nighttime illumination for a sportier appearance.

Heating/Air Conditioning System
The heating/air conditioning system is essential for driver and passenger comfort, but it can also be a source of extraneous noise. Recognizing this, Honda's engineers redesigned the heating/air conditioning system in the 2001 Civic to deliver a new class of performance in each area:

• By switching to a radial fan, fan noise is reduced by 17 percent.
• The heating core capacity has been increased by 6 percent, despite an 8 percent reduction in volume, yet it has a 6 percent increase in capacity, not only making it smaller.
• As a result, cool-down performance has been improved so the system cools the interior quicker.

Sliding Air Mix Door
The air mix door controls how much hot and/or cold air reaches the interior. In the past, the air mix door was a larger assembly because the door required room to rotate open and shut. On the 2001 Civic, the air mix door slides back and forth. This design requires less space and is more efficient.

Thin Evaporator
The width of the evaporator has been reduced from 2.95 in. / 75mm down to 2.28 in./ 58 mm. This makes it smaller and lighter, which made it easier for the engineers to reduce the overall length of the Civic without compromising functionality.

Even though the evaporator is physically smaller, it features improved heat exchange efficiency thanks to a new fin design that reduces airflow resistance.

Radial Fan
The blower fan has been changed to a radial design. This was done for two reasons -- to reduce fan noise while also minimizing power consumption, as the radial fan design is more efficient and operates on less electricity.

Easy to Service Air Filter
The 2001 Civic includes an integrated micron air filter for the heat/ventilation/air conditioning system. It is located behind the glovebox for easy servicing.

• The glovebox is designed for easy removal.
• The horizontal air filter lifts out for ease of replacement.
• No tools are required.

Interior Storage
When it comes to storage compartments, the 2001 Civic is designed to accommodate the needs of today's drivers. There is a pocket below the radio that can accommodate three CD cases. There are two cupholders in front, which can accommodate 20-ounce plastic bottles, and EX models add a rear cupholder. There's a convenient lower pocket in the center console that is ideal for carrying sunglasses. Plus, the glovebox is a functional, spacious design.

• Coupe models include tie-down hooks in the rear cargo area, making it easier to secure parcels.
• Civic Coupe EX models add a trunk net. It can be used horizontally to hold parcels down to keep them from shifting; or, it can be used vertically, to partition off the cargo area.

Safety and Security
When designing the 2001 Civic, the engineers examined all aspects of this vehicle. This led to an all-new body structure and interior safety systems.

Dual Pre-Tensioners on the Front Seatbelts
As part of the effort to achieve the five star safety target, the Civic is the first car in the world to feature dual seat belt pre-tensioners on both front seat belts.

• Typically, a pre-tensioner has been used to pull the shoulder belt tightly in the event of a collision.
• On the 2001 Civic, in addition to the shoulder belt pre-tensioner, Honda engineers added an inner buckle lap belt pre-tensioner for both front seats. Accordingly, in an accident, both the shoulder portion and the lap portion of the belt are pulled tightly, firmly securing the occupant in the seat.

SRS -- Advanced Technology Airbags
The 2001 Civic is equipped with a driver's and front passenger's airbag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). It is similar to the advanced airbag system used in the some 2000 Acura models. This system has three sensors -- including a front sensor, buckle switches to tell if front seat occupants have their seat belts buckled, and a dual-stage inflator to match the airbag deployment speed with seatbelt use and the severity of the crash.

Dual-Stage Inflator Driver and Passenger Airbag System
In the event of a moderate to severe frontal collision, the SRS system in the 2001 Civic can determine the inflation rate depending on the severity of the collision and front seat occupant seat belt use.

• When the front seat occupants are wearing their seat belts during slower speed collisions, the inflator system is triggered in sequence, resulting in slower overall airbag deployment with less initial force.
• In other collisions, both inflators operate simultaneously for full, immediate inflation, to correspond with the greater impact force.

Side Airbags
Driver and front seat passenger side airbags are available on all Civic trim levels.

• The side airbags are triggered in response to the signals sent by the three sensors.
• The front passenger's seat is equipped with an innovative occupant position detection system designed to disable side airbag deployment and prevent injury to a child (or a small-statured adult) if they lean into the side airbag deployment path.
• A series of seven sensors in the passenger seatback monitors the size and position of the occupant to determine if it is safe to deploy the airbag. If the child is leaning into the deployment path of the side airbag, the sensors will prevent the side airbag from inflating. When the child returns to an upright seating position, the side airbag will reactivate so it can deploy and help protect the occupant in a moderate to severe side impact collision.
• An indicator light on the dash alerts the driver that the front passenger is out of position.

LATCH System
All 2001 Civic models feature the new LATCH (for Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHildren) system so parents may use LATCH-compatible seats. This system combines tether anchor points on the rear window package shelf with anchor points located at the seat back/seat bottom contact point for secure mounting of child safety seats.

Flush Mounted Tether Anchors
More and more child safety seats are designed to be used with a tether strap. In the past, the tether anchors were bolted on to previous Civics and many other models. On the 2001 Civic, these anchors are flush mounted and hidden away. If tether anchors are needed, they are available by flipping up the covers.

Theft Deterrent Measures
Various measures make the 2001 Civic more resistant to theft. Models equipped with the keyless entry system now incorporate a "copy protection system" that makes it virtually impossible for thieves to "clone" the keyless entry code. Every time the owner presses the keyless entry system, it locks or unlocks the doors, then changes to a new, random code. Some of the other theft deterrent measures include:

• inside door lock knobs close flush when the door is locked (in the past, the knob protruded above the door panel).
• a new plastic cover around the lock area to deflect "Slim Jim" type mechanisms from being used to force a door lock.
• the outer door handle, which includes the key cylinder, is more securely attached to the door, which makes it harder to tamper with.

Immobilizer System
All 2001 Civic models incorporate a built-in immobilizer system for enhanced theft prevention. The immobilizer system is integrated with the vehicle control unit -- if someone tries to use an unauthorized key, the system automatically shuts down the electrical system.

• In some states, this qualifies the 2001 Civic for an insurance discount.

Cargo Area
With a goal of a shorter overall vehicle length, increasing trunk capacity might seem unobtainable. To overcome this obstacle, engineers developed the new chassis to create greater trunk space.

• The rear suspension was redesigned so it did not protrude into the trunk area. This not only made the trunk space larger, but it improved versatility.

The shape of the new trunk makes it easier to carry strollers, golf bags, wheelchairs, etc.

• The new Civic can accommodate four 26-inch Pullman suitcases while the 2000 Civic could only handle two (by comparison, the Accord also accommodates four 26-inch Pullmans).*

Emergency Trunk Opener
For added peace of mind, every 2001 Civic sold in the United States will feature an emergency trunk opener that allows the trunk to be opened from the inside.